Reel storage apparatus



Oct. 14, 1969 B. M. osoJNAK 3,472,386

REEL STORAGE APPARATUS -Filed May 8, 1967 /i M MN A if ff; lli A Y y v25 74 l 7a T- j Rij/7% E 44 u f@ w i i4 14] @L 44k VPA gilgglg; :2:344

United States Patent O 3,472,386 REEL STORAGE APPARATUS Boris M.Osojnak, Birmingham, Mich., assigner to Engineered Data Products, Inc.,Femdaie, Mich., a corporation of Michigan i Filed May 3, 1967, Ser. No.635,845

l. Int, Cl. A47g 29/00; B65h 55/00; A47b 81/00 U.S. Cl. 211--40 9 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reel storage' apparatus wherein each reelis sealed by an encircling sealing ring and the sealing rings, togetherwith their encircled reels, are stored in side by side relation on astorage rack comprising a plurality of spaced wires arranged inlaterally spaced relation and bent into a generally arcuatei upwardlyopening configuration to individually receive arcuate channels definedon the outer periphery of the sealing rings.

Background of the invention This invention relates to reel storageapparatus. More particularly, it relates to a novel sealing ring of thetype adapted to sealingly encircle a reel, and to a novel storage rack`adapted for use with the sealing ring of the invention. Various formslof Sealing rings are available, as well as various forms of storageracks to receive these sealing rings with their encircled reels. Whilethese rings and racks, in combination, are generally satisfactory, theydo have certain disadvantages. Specifically, they tend to be rathercomplicated, and therefore expensive, in construction, and they do notafford maximum utilization of available space.

Summary of the invention It isan object of the present invention toprovide improved reel storage apparatus.

A more particular object is to provide a reel storage apparatus which issimple and inexpensive in construction and which affords maximumutilization of the available storage space.

In the reel storage apparatus of the invention, each sealing ringcomprises a strip of flexible material adapted to be formed into a loopto encircle a reel and defining at its outer periphery a radiallyoutwardly opening arcuate channel, and the storage rack defines aplurality of upwardly opening concave support surfaces disposed in sideby side, laterally spaced relation to receive a pluralit'y of reels withthe arcuate channels in the flexible strips encircling the reelsreceiving the support surfaces to provide bottom, side by side storagesupport for the reels.

According to a further feature of the invention, two channels areprovided in each strip, one along each axial edge of the strip, and eachchannel opens at its axially outer side as well as radially; and eachsupport surface has a width approximately twice the width of eachchannel so that 'each support surface is received within the left handchannel of one strip and the right hand channel of an adjacent strip tosupport the adjacent reels in close, side by side relation.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description to follow.

Brief description of the drawings A preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a reel storageapparatus according to the invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary cross sectional views taken on lines 2-2and 3-3, respectively, of FIG. l.

ice

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment The reel storageapparatus of the invention includes a storage rack 10 adapted forcoaction with one or more sealing rings 12.

Each sealing ring 12 includes a strip 14 of flexible material such, forexample, as polyurethane, formed into a loop to encircle a reel 16. Reel16 is of the type including a central spool 18 and generally circularflanges 20 at opposite ends of the spool concentric with the spool axis.

Strip 14 may be either extruded or molded. In cross section, as seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, it includes a generally U-shaped main body portion 14aand a pair of rib portions 14b projecting axially outwardly from theopposite legs of main body portion 14a. The radially outer annularsurface of each rib 14b cooperates with the adjacent axially outerannular surface of main body portion 14a to define an arcuatecircumferential channel 14e along each axial edge of the strip.

Channels 14e extend continuously around the outer periphery of strip 14but are each interrupted by a land or stop portion 14d forming a blockin the channel. If strip 14 is formed in a molding operation, landportions 14d may be molded integral with the remainder of the strip. Ifstrip 14 is formed in an extrusion operation, land portions 14d may beformed by separate elements suitably secured to the extruded plasticstrip. The radially inner portions of the legs of U-shaped main bodyportion 14a define rib portions 14e which are adapted to fit within theouter peripheral edges of reel flanges 20 to determine the axialpositioning of the strip loop on the reel.

The sealing ring is releasably maintained in sealing position around thereel by latch means 22, including coacting latch elements on the freeends of the strip loop. Any suitable form of latch means may beemployed. A preferred form of latch means is shown in FIG. 1; theillustrated latch means is described in detail in applicants copendingpatent application Ser. No. 601,205, filed Dec. l2, 1966.

As described in that application, latch meansl 22, in addition to thecoacting latch elements on the free ends of the strip loop, alsoincludes a guide member 24. Member 24 includes an arcuate block portion26 fitted within the channel of the U-shaped main body portion 14a ofthe strip, and a handling portion 28 extending radially outwardlythrough an aperture 30 in main body portion 14a. In the copendingapplication, handling portion 28 is in the form of a hook to facilitatehanging of the sealing ring and encircled reel from a suitable overheadsupport.

In the embodiment of the present application, the hook opening is filledby a web 32 to provide a convenient ,handle for grasping the sealingring. Latch means 22 is identical in all other respects to the latchmeans of the copending application.

Storage rack 1t) comprises a plurality of wires 34 of fiat wire stock.Each wire 34 includes a relatively long rear leg portion 36 extendingupwardly from a suitable base surface 38, a central portion 40, and arelatively short forward leg portion 42 extending downwardly forengagement with support surface 38.

Central portion 40 is bent into a concave, upwardly opening arcuateconfiguration so that the upper surface of central portion 40 defines aconcave, upwardly opening support surface lyingv generally on a circulararc having a radius `generally equal to `that of the reels 16 to bestored.

Wires 34 are rigidly secured to each other by a series of round stockwires 44. Wires 44 are spot welded to wires 34 and establish andmaintain an axial distance between adjacent wires 34 slightly greaterthan the exterior axial width of U-shaped main body portion 14ajofstrips 14. The axial width of wires 34 is equal to approximately twicethe axial width of channels 14C.

In use, a sealing ring i2 is positioned around a reel to be stored withrib portions 14e fitting within reel flanges 20, whereafter latch means22 is manipulated to releasably maintain the sealing ring in itsencircling condition. The sealing ring and encircled reel are thenplaced on the storage rack with the left hand channel 14C receiving andresting on one wire 34, the right hand channel 14C receiving and restingon an adjacent wire 34, and the radially outer portion of U-shaped mainbody portion 14a positioned between the adjacent wires. Left handchannel 14e overlies approximately one half of the related wire 34 whileright hand channel 14C overlies approximately one half of the adjacentwire 34.

Unit A of FIG. 2 depicts a sealing ring and reel assembly positioned onrack as above described. Another sealing ring and reel assembly B isseen positioned beside unit A. The right hand channel 14e of the sealingring of assembly B receives the remaining one half of the Wire 34received within the left hand channel 14C of the sealing ring ofassembly A so that the right hand peripheral edge of the sealing ring ofassembly B is closely juxtaposed to the left hand peripheral edge of thesealing ring of assembly A, thereby achieving compact, side by sidestorage of the reel units with maximum utilization of available space.Unit C in FG. 2 comprises simply a sealing ring, with the reel omittedto show some of the details of the sealing ring construction.

When positioning a ring and reel assembly on the rack, the assembly ispositioned between two adjacent wires 34 as previously describedwhereafter the unit is rotated on the rack about the reel and rack axisuntil stop portions 14d are brought into engagement with the kneesformed by the juncture of the forward and central portions of thesupporting wires 34, stop 14d thus functioning to index the assembly andbring handle 2'8 into alignment with the handles on adjacent assemblies.

When it is desired to remove a reel and ring assembly, handle 28 isgrasped and pulled generally downwardly; this causes the assembly topivot forwardly about a fulcrum defined by stops 14a' to a positiondisplaced from the other assemblies, in which position it may be readilygrasped and removed from the rack.

The disclosed reel storage apparatus will be seen to provide a simpleinexpensive construction offering maximum utilization of availablestorage space.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be understood that various changes may bemade in the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A storage apparatus for reels of the type including a central spooland generally circular flanges at opposite ends of said spool concentricwith the spool axis, said apparatus comprising:

(A) a plurality of sealing rings each including:

(1) a strip of flexible material adapted to be formed into a loop toencircle a reel and defining at its outer periphery a radially outwardlyopening arcuate channel and a main body land portion adjacent saidchannel, and

(2), coacting latch means on the free ends of the strip to releasablymaintain the strip in encircling relation around the reel; and

(B) a storage rack including a plurality of support portions defining attheir respective upper faces a plurality of upwardly opening, concavesupport surfaces disposed in side by side relation and defining lateralspaces therebetween of a width to pass said land portions of said stripsto allow said support Iportions to seat within the arcuate channels ofsaid strips with said support surfaces embracing the bottoms of saidarcuate channels to provide bottom, side by side storage support forsaid reels.

2. A storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(C) two radially outwardly opening arcuate channels are provided at theouter periphery of each strip with a main body land portion definedtherebetween; and

(D) a support portion as aforedescribed is seated in each said channelwith said main body land portion of each strip passing between the twosupport portions seated in the channels of that strip.

3. A storage apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

(E) there are two said channels in each strip, one

along each axial edge of the strip and each channel opens at its axiallyouter side as well as radially; and

(F) each support surface has an axial width twice the axial width ofeach of said channels and said support surfaces are spaced apart adistance slightly greater than the distance between the two arcuatechannels on a strip, whereby the sealing strips with their encircledreels may be supported on said storage rack with each support surfacereceived within the left hand channel of one strip and the right handchannel of an adjacent strip and the axial edges of adjacent strips injuxtaposed relation.

4. A storage apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

(G) said storage rack comprises a plurality of separate wire membersarranged in laterally spaced relation and bent into a generally arcuateupwardly opening configuration to define said support surfaces at theirupper surfaces.

5. A storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein:

(H) each wire member includes:

(l) a relatively long rearward portion extending upwardly from a basesurface,

(2) a central portion defining the aforesaid upwardly opening arcuateconfiguration, and

(3) a relatively short forward portion extending downwardly to said basesurface.

6. A storage apparatus according to claim 5 wherein:

(I) each channel of each strip is interrupted by a land portion which isadapted to engage the knee formed by the juncture of the forward andcentral portions of the wire members to index the strip and enclosedreel with respect to the storage rack and with respect to the otherreels and to provide a fulcrum about which the strip and reel may berotated to facilitate removal from the rack.

7. A storage apparatus according to claim 6 wherein:

(J each sealing ring further includes a handle member projectingoutwardly from the outer periphery of the related strip to facilitategrasping of the ring and enclosed reel.

8. A tape storage apparatus comprising:

(A) a tape storage reel including a central spool and generally circularflanges at opposite ends of the spool concentric with the spool axis;

(B) a sealing ring comprising a strip of fiexible material adapted to beformed into a loop to encircle said reel and defining a channel at itsouter periphery along each of its axial edges with each channel in thelooped configuration of said strip opening at its axially outer side aswell as radially outwardly; and

(C) coacting latch means on the free ends of said strip to releasablymaintain said strip in encircling relation around said reel.

9. A tape storage apparatus according to claim 8 wherein Said stripincludes:

(D) a main body portion having a generally U-shaped cross sectionopening toward the center of the loop; and

(E) a pair of annular rib portions projecting axially outwardly from theaxially outer surfaces of the opposite legs of said main body portion ata location `5 6 intermediate the radial height of said outer surfaces,3,095,969 7/ 1963 Morrison 206-53 the radially outer annular surface ofeach said rib 3,124,243 3/ 1964 Kulka 20G-53 thus coacting with theradially outer portion of the 3,209,904 10/ 1965 Mathus 206-52 aforesaidouter surface of the adjacent leg of said 3,310,178 3/ 1967 Wright211-40 main body portion to define said axially and radially 5 3,338,421-8/ 1967 Lyman 312-10 X opening channels and the radially inner annularsurface of each said rib thus coacting with the radially FOREIGN PATENTSinner portion of the aforesaid outer surface of the 1,040,796 9 /1965`Great Britaim adiacent leg of said main body portion to engage thperipheral edges and the axially inner faces, re- 10 CHANCELLOR E,HARRIS, Primary Examiner spectively, of said circular anges.

i U.S. Cl. X.R.

References Cited 20G-52; 312--20 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,766 11/1943Kinloch. 15 2,621,815 12/1952 Gannon 211-20 X

